DU Activist Corps, July 21, 2005 -- Supreme Court Petitions

[Skinner]

This week President Bush announced his nomination for the Supreme Court: John Roberts, an extreme right-wing ideologue, corporate lawyer, registered lobbyist, and 20-year partisan hack with only two years' experience on the federal bench. He has argued before the Supreme Court that Roe v. Wade "was wrongly decided and should be overruled..." He worked with Bush-Cheney during the 2000 Florida recount. And he even worked with Ken Starr.

This is the first of what we expect will be many actions relating to the Supreme Court. We wanted to start with something relatively easy.

DU ACTIVIST CORPS TASK: JULY 21, 2005

TASK:

Add your voice to the following online petitions and email campaigns, then return to this thread and click the link to report that you are finished.

THE LINKS:

Alliance for Justice: "Urge Your Senator to Thoroughly Examine Roberts' Record"
http://capwiz.com/afj/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7850786

American Association of University Women: "Urge a Thorough Review of Supreme Court Nominee"
http://capwiz.com/aauw/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7853726

Democracy For America: "No Rubber Stamps"
http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/petition/norubberstamps

MoveOn: "Oppose John Roberts' Supreme Court Nomination"
http://political.moveon.org/roberts

NARAL: "Tell Your Senators to oppose anti-choice John Roberts!"
http://www.naral.org

People for the American Way/SaveTheCourt.org: "Send your senators a message right now encouraging them to withhold judgment on Judge John Roberts until his record has been thoroughly reviewed."
https://www.kintera.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?kntaw9310=D662EB397D244B7E947AE33C4A050628&c=mwK0JbNTJrF&b=849131&action=2968&template=x.ascx

Planned Parenthood: "Contact your senator NOW and urge him or her to require answers about Roberts' views on a woman’s right to privacy, health, and safety."
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/scourt_nominee2

True Majority: "Reject Bush's Supreme Court Nominee"
http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/SupremeCourtAction

1455 DU Activist Corps members have pledged to participate in this task, so get to work, and let's make it a success! You don't need to be a member of the DU Activist Corps in order to participate.

AFTER YOU ARE FINISHED

If you are a registered member of our activist corps, please click this link when you are finished so we can keep track of how many people completed the task.

DEADLINE

ASAP. Complete this task by 8:00 PM ET, Monday July 25.

HOW TO JOIN THE DU ACTIVIST CORPS

Members of the DU Activist Corps receive special activist alerts in their DU inbox whenever a new task is posted. If you aren't currently a member of the DU Activist Corps, we encourage you to join us. Here's how:

1. You must be a registered member of Democratic Underground, and you must be logged in. If you are not registered or logged on, please do so now.

2. Just click this link to join the DU Activist Corps. It will automatically register you as a member.

3. At any time, you can check if you or someone else is a member of the DU Activist Corps by looking at their DU profile.

[Nothing Without Hope]

1. Will do. Nominated. n/t

[DemsUnite]

331. Sorry, was out of town :(

Hopefully, next task!

[Ce qui la baise]

338. Me too.

[Triana]

2. DONE.

I had already responded to a few of these petitions. I responded to the rest of them you listed. :D

[ck4829]

3. Done.

[UrbScotty]

4. Done!

:-)

[terrya]

5. Done!

[bicentennial_baby]

6. Done!

:bounce:

[MadisonProgressive]

7. Done! That was easy!

[More Than A Feeling]

8. Done!

This was quick and easy, but I doubt it will do anything. I think these sorts of things get mostly ignored.

Still, its good to get people in the habit of doing things like this, so when more involved things come up, more will do them.

[donco6]

34. Yes and No.

If one side or the other is wildly out of proportion, they sometimes bring it up. We just have to make sure that doesn't happen. I'm fairly sure the OTHER side is wracking up quite a list themselves.

[Rhiannon12866]

219. I've participated in these "actions" for a few years

And I almost always hear back from my senators and representative about them. In fact, I don't just get an e-mail reply, but I have a whole stack of envelopes from letters that I received by snail mail from my Freeper rep. He actually seems to agree with me more than he doesn't, and I do appreciate the personal response, no matter what, though I'm not deluding myself that he wrote the letter himself.:-)

Another thing to remember is that, if they give you the choice of sending a fax, instead of an e-mail, they give more attention to those. And, in some cases, you can download and print the letter to send in the mail. Those are given even higher priority than a fax. And, if you are willing to take the time and go to the expense of calling, this is taken the most seriously of all.:-)

[cynatnite]

9. Done, but one

The one for planned parenthood didn't complete because it said I didn't live in a state of the targeted Senators. Just FYI.

It was so easy and only took a few minutes :)

[Dr Fate]

10. When The Old Bossman says "jump"- Dr Fate asks "How high?"

Done- thanks Old Bossman.

[Bucky]

143. I'm not your dancing monkeyboy, Skinner!

Oh who am I fooling? Of course I am. Line me up and tell me what Shakespeare folio to type up next.

[LeftNYC]

11. That was easy. Lets hope it makes a difference. Thanks DU ...nt

[Cobalt Violet]

12. Done

[Jo March]

13. DONE! But Planned Parenthood refused my signature

This is what I got when I submitted for Planned Parenthood:

"We're sorry but it appears that you are not eligible to participate in this campaign. This campaign is designated for constituents of the targeted decisionmaker(s) and based upon your address, it appears that you do not live in an area represented by the targeted decisionmaker(s). If you would like to correct your address information, please return to..."

I signed all the others and, most importantly, PASSED THEM ON TO OTHER FOLKS. That is where our little group of 1079 becomes thousands! We have to help pass these petitions along in addition to signing them.

Love to see all of the groups that have acted so quickly on this nomination.

This Activist Corps thing ROCKS!!

[MelissaB]

62. Me, too!

[Jo March]

69. Somehow I don't think that we should offer any girl-on-girl action

for these. It got us in trouble the last time! LOL!!

:evilgrin:

[Bucky]

142. When is that ever inappropriate? By the way, they LOVED my signature

Maybe some of us just have cooler emails than others. Y'ever think of that? Huh?

[Jo March]

162. Why, no. I never thought of that.

I guess my signature is just not petition-worthy.

[cat starbuck]

322. You can still send your email to your congressperson...

just do it via his/her web page. I got the same message on a different petition drive this am, so I copied and pasted it into a directly-emailed message to Jim McDermott. If it's something they are not supporting, then they have now heard from you about it. If they do support it, then they get more affirmation that their decisions were right.

BTW, what was the great signature that Bucky uses? Maybe we could all use it as a DU good-luck charm?

Cathy in Seattle

[Ysolde]

118. Me, three!

Any idea why? I KNOW I have 2 idiot senators, but they should still get the message that we're not happy about this. Don't you agree?

[seabeyond]

211. me either. not targeted area

[Rhiannon12866]

221. Sometimes you can find another action on the same topic on the same site

That you're eligible to participate in. I did this, just today, on another topic, though I'm damned if I can remember exactly what it was. I have taken part in so many of these, in the past few days, that it's all a blur.:crazy:

Also, there are sometimes other worthy actions on the same site, that you hadn't received. If I have time, I look to see if there's anything there that I missed.:shrug:

[JRob]

209. me three, er four... what's up with that?

[katinmn]

14. Done!

[zeal]

15. done...

that was a lot of forms :)

[noamnety]

16. Done, but

Is there an advantage to sending multiple emails to our own senators?

I understand signing multiple petitions, but if I emailed my senators in my own words already about my concerns, why would I email the same people 4 more times - is there an advantage to that?

[the old gringo]

18. that's what I was thinking too

?

[cyberpj]

29. I posted the same question - should have read yours first. nt.

[Jo March]

71. Well, I don't know if they will check to see how many times

someone sends them an email. If they get flooded, then they won't have time to sit and count how many times good old Arnie sent them an email. They'll just say, "Crap! Our inbox is full!"

I am not only emailing but printing out letters to mail as well. I encourage everyone to do the same. The flood of mail makes an impact.

And fax 'em too!

[Rhiannon12866]

220. Absolutely! I always choose fax, if given the choice, since it has a

Higher priority than e-mail. And mailed letters are considered even more important than a fax. The only thing that rates higher is a phone call.:-)

[wookie294]

151. Senators have ways to avoid emails from "groups"

Here's the response I got from Senator Boxer. Notice how she says she will not consider emails sent via "third party organizations." So, I wrote her a separate email via her website....

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your e-mail message and for your interest in public policy.

In order to better serve the 35 million residents of California, I am now using an e-mail system located on my Senate website. This system enables me to provide more and better responses to you and other constituents while saving taxpayer dollars. At this time, limited resources do not allow me to respond individually to e-mails I receive through third-party organizations.

If you would like a reply to your message, I encourage you to visit my website e-mail system at http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm Simply fill in the fields, type in your message, and click �Submit� at the bottom of the page.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I hope you will keep in touch.

Sincerely,


Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

[mcscajun]

179. Not really. I didn't do Every Single link.

Sign all the petitions, certainly, but One E-mail to your Senators should be sufficient.

I think more than one from any voter on a single issue would really be counter-productive.

[realFedUp]

17. Is there a program that remembers all our info and just fills it in?

I know it doesn't take much time, but just
clicking a button and all our info is put
into place would be handy.

BTW, Senator Feinstein complains about all
these e-mails from interest groups but she
should take into account real people are
behind all these signatures...of course unless you are
a rightwing group that just makes them up.

[EC]

54. Roboform.. n/t

[Nite Owl]

203. Google toolbar

if you use the autofill.

[Rhiannon12866]

218. If you've participated with a particular group before, it remembers your

info. So you only have to type it in once, ever. I participate in lots and lots of these (and had already received most of these already) and it's very handy, since they keep you up to speed on what's going on. And you can choose to use the message that they've written, which is usually informed and accurate, or add any words that you'd like of your own.:-)

[justinsb]

19. Done! n/t

[auburngrad82]

20. Done

[SCDem]

21. Done

but only did the top two as I realized they were being sent to my same Senators. I think if I bombard them with too much from just one person it could be over done.

Thank you for posting this.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

22. done

=)

[Dragonfli]

23. Done!!!

And A copy of the links is being e-mail to all my family & frients to sign.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. Now THAT I can't see how I could help

Would look too contrived. Artificial. A Brazilian living in Brazil, urging Americans to thoroughly review a SC judge nominee?

Commenting on a political scandal was viable (I got the chance to get snarky), but this?

[EC]

57. Point out that our policies affect what happens

in South America, and that our Supreme Court makes decisions that affect policy.

[melissinha]

95. Do what you want to but...

I signed these as their consitutent (as an american), but also being brazilian I am concerned over the effects that our policies have on Brazil. Brazil is greatly affected, and it may be very interesting for them to see foreign concern. I often get really upset when all the right wing nutbags just turn a blind eye to the valid opinions and concerns of other countries, and foremost the "factual intelligence provided by international agencies"(think Hans Blix).

Hey did they ever really confirm that "DO you have blacks too?" comment? I know "o Estado" owner or editor had a connection to Cardoso....

[demjuli]

25. Done! n/t

[Double T]

26. Done!!

[Mutley]

27. Done!

I signed each petition that I had not already signed elsewhere.

[cyberpj]

28. Done - But I have questions about sending so many to Congresspeople

So many emails saying the same thing from one person through so many groups seems to leave us open to the old "shotgun approach" claims. I'll sign as many petitions as are open, that feels different, but having my senators/reps get 10 to 15 emails from 10 to 15 organizations, all saying the same thing from one constuent doesn't seem right.

Am I wrong?

[Rhiannon12866]

223. I wondered that myself, since I received most of these in e-mail already,

And they're all, obviously, on the same subject. But I finally decided hat my senators aren't going to read each e-mail, personally, and say "not HER again!" LOL! I just figured that the more messages that they get on this important topic, the better. My senators aren't going to read all these personally, but they're sure going to hear when they're inundated with e-mail or faxes from constituents insisting that they throughly examine this nominee's objectionable record.:shrug:

[donco6]

30. Done

[Chichiri]

31. Done. In addition . . .

Most of these petitions, after you sign them, take you to screens where you can email friends and tell THEM about the petitions. I encourage everyone to make full use of these screens.

[dogday]

32. Done

Planned Parenthood said I was not in the area but tried anyway....

[hfojvt]

33. I did DFA and PFAW

but are we to do all of them? I am afraid that if my senators get six emails from me, that I become that much easier to ignore. I become one of the "usual suspects". I probably am already.

[Skinner]

37. Here's the dirty little secret from Capitol Hill

Emails are easy to ignore even if you only send one. So why not send six and force them to ignore six instead of one? I say: The more the better.

We'll be writing hard-copy snail-mail letters eventually.

[sniffa]

40. god damn that took a whiLe

but done and done.

[il_lilac]

139. Agree- flood them!

and done. Next!

[bliss_eternal]

161. ...And phonecalls!

I'm heading to Costco tomorrow for a calling card, so I can call them in their local offices AND on Capitol Hill.

I will NOT be ignored...

[Jara sang]

319. Done!

That didn't take that long. I thought I had missed the deadline too. :patriot:

[Jack Rabbit]

35. Done

[GrapesOfWrath]

36. Done!

:toast:

[Midlodemocrat]

38. Done!! What a great way to spend my lunch hour!

[Stand and Fight]

45. You and me both! n/t

[proud patriot]

Glad to help

[KoKo]

39. With Liddy Dole and Richard Burr as my Senators...

this one is a very hard one. Faxes to them don't even get a real reply if you are a Democrat. Believe me...you get a form letter with repug garbage. I've faxed Dole several times. Burr replaced Edwards. I think I'll pass on this, and try to find a different way to express concern about Roberts.

I'll try to find another way to work on this...though.

[MuseRider]

41. Done!

Thanks for making this one so easy! Last one wasn't hard either. I think this is going to end up being a really great idea.

[KingFlorez]

42. Done!

[Stand and Fight]

43. Tasks completed!

You got something else for me?

[emcguffie]

44. Done. nt

[southpaw]

46. Done nt

[hermetic]

47. Done!

[Missy M]

48. Done!!!

[Coastie for Truth]

49. DONE

Going to Zoe Lofgren's Barbeque next month. Went to Art Torre's Santa Clara Fund Raiser this week.

[EC]

50. done... n/t

[xmas74]

51. Done except for Planned Parenthood.

They said that mine would not be forwarded since I do not live in an area that they are targeting. Don't really blame them since we know exactly how Talent and Bond would vote.

[BR_Parkway]

83. Got the same message

[xmas74]

85. Another red stater.

Must be who our senators are.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

163. Yep

They were targeting specific senators, mine weren't on their list either.

[xmas74]

170. They knew exactly which way mine would vote.

I hope that Talent is out in '06.

[TBreeze]

152. Me too

All others done though

[cat starbuck]

326. hmmm....they LIKED mine...hehe

Dear Cathy,

Thank you for taking action to protect the Supreme Court. The
stakes have never been higher. Taking action was the first step,
but the most important thing you can do now is to tell a friend
about the upcoming battle for the Supreme Court.

Tell a friend >>
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/scourt_nominee2/forward

Sincerely,
Planned Parenthood Action Network

[LeahD]

52. Done even though I'm not a member of the "Corps." n/t

[im10ashus]

53. Done! n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. Doen I also sugest Letters and calls to your critters

as well as local papers

[evolved Anarchopunk]

56. Done

[ronnykmarshall]

58. Done!!

[cappy]

59. Done!

[MelissaB]

60. Done!

[w8liftinglady]

61. Done-except PP

Planned Parenthood said I was not in their 'Targeted area"...oh,well.

[kweerwolf]

63. Done ... except for Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood is apparently targeting only certain senators and since I'm in Missouri where we have Repugnant-cans Kit Bond(age) and Jimmy Talent(less) as senators, Planned Parenthood must figure it's useless to contact them.

[russian33]

64. Sealed and delivered

[DS1]

65. Done

:-)

[RandomKoolzip]

66. Diddley-done!

[melnjones]

67. Done, minus two. nt

[Hawkeye-X]

68. Done, and I have one more.

http://draftprado.org/

http://draftprado.org/chart

http://draftprado.org/home#join

He is a moderate Republican who has 21 years of judicial experience and fairmindness.

He was nominated by Chimp in 2001, and won support from both sides.

[Panda1]

140. Done, and yours too

For good measure. ;)

[ornotna]

272. Good call - Done

[ClayZ]

70. Done, Thanks

:patriot:

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

72. Done

[Tuesday_Morning]

73. done! n/t

[havocmom]

74. Tabbed browsing is SOOOO cool for stuff like this!

Just right click each link in Skinner's alert, then click on 'open in new tab'. When all the links have been clicked and all the taps have the sites opened, ya just go zipping through them. Makes sure you got them all and takes less time.

With form filling capabilities, that stuff is done in no time at all, leaving one with time to make good personal remarks in the space provided in most sites like these.

With 'copy and paste' you can save your good remarks and paste them to a program like Word to use for LTTE and/or emails to your contact lists.

Gads, think how much fun Frankling, Jefferson, Adams and the rest of the founders would have had with computers!

Thanks for putting all the links in one place for us, Skinner & group.
Makes a nice bundle to send out to family and friends too!

[hiley]

75. Finished,

I had already done most of them last night but the ones that let me I went ahead and sent another email.Can't hurt..
Thanks,
Hiley

[Ariana Celeste]

76. I have a question before I do this-

Is it safe to have my real info on these things? I'm sure it is but just felt I should ask.

[expatriot]

78. All required info is part of the public domain anyway.

If people wanted your address they could look it up in the phonebook, it's not like they ask for your SS#, date of birth, mother's maiden name, etc.

If you don't want to give them your phone#, that's fine. I stopped giving that out on petitions, etc. when I started getting calls from groups for money.

[Ariana Celeste]

96. Thank you so much

I've always been weird about that stuff but you have a point, they can probly find my info anyways. If my number isn't required I won't put that in there! :scared:

Thanks, I'll start getting on this once I've had some more coffee. :7

[CheshireCat]

254. signature on post

I had never heard the 2nd quote on your signature. Thanks for including it as it expresses my belief in such a powerful manner.

[Rhiannon12866]

224. I have participated in these for years. So far, the most I've gotten was a

phone call, and very rarely. I don't list my phone number, either, if I can help it. And they can always look you up, anyway. And it's also important to be accurate so that your representatives will know that you're really a constituent and so that the particular organization, Planned Parenthood, ACLU, PDA, whatever, will be able to send you their next important "action," to participate in, whatever it may be.:-)

[expatriot]

77. done - almost nt

I couldn't do PP and I will do AAUW tonight when I get homne.

[kevinmc]

79. Done n/t

[smbolisnch]

80. Done! nt

[wildeyed]

81. Done

:hi:

I forwarded the links to a bunch of folks on my email list, too.

[sinkingfeeling]

82. Done.

[patdem]

84. Done...plus a letter to my two Senators..both repukes BTW

Sen. George Allen
204 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-4604

RE: The nomination of John Roberts as Supreme Court Justice

Dear Senator Allen:

I just signed 8 petitions on the web regarding this nomination because I find it appalling that anyone would consider the confirmation of a nominee who wishes to roll back progress rather than to move us forward into an even more enlightened concept than the founding fathers envisioned.

I no more want to light fires with flints than I want to live in 1776 America.

I believe the Constitution was written in vague terms in order for a changing society to continue to be represented by the Constitution. It is not a literal document but rather a listing of ideals that, if we are vigilant against usurpation of power by one branch of government, we will be able to survive well beyond the 1200 or so years of the reign of the Roman Empire.

I do not understand why there should be progress in all areas except those of human relations, and as Jefferson stated "If God is just, I tremble for my Country". I think Jefferson himself wanted human relations to change over time.

The bible was written 2,000 years ago, and though its premise is good and noble it is not a dictate of life or we would live more like the Taliban and less like Americans.

Sincerely
name etc

Edit: took out the word Please in the last paragraph..sounded too preachy!

[Bill219]

87. done!

[sandnsea]

86. Done most, will cross-post

But I won't do the ones that already call for a rejection. It's too early for that, for me anyway. Thanks for the list though.

[VOX]

88. Done.

:kick:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

89. Done and done!

Thanks, Skinner!

[bearfan454]

90. Done

I signed all the other advocacy campaigns the sites had too.

[Melinda]

91. Task completed in less than 10 minutes... everyone should participate!

[yorkiemommie1]

105. can we?

i can't commit to phone calls, etc; because of my bushbot husband but i can do emails and online petitions.

[Rhiannon12866]

225. Of course you can.

And once you sign up with a particular organization, they'll send you subsequent "actions" on subsequent issues that they also feel are important. This saves you from writing them by yourself and keeps you informed about the most important things that are going on. You always have the option of participating, or not.:shrug:

[burythehatchet]

92. Done

[orleans]

93. done. and now i think i'll take your advice and do it several more times

so they can ignore me more than once. also, i like the snail mail idea. think i'll do that also--after all--i don't want this guy messing with my daughter's life for the next thirty years!

[Rhiannon12866]

226. Great idea! They give snail mail even more weight than e-mails or faxes,

Since it requires a greater effort on the part of the sender.:-)

[converted_democrat]

94. Done....n/t

[Rainscents]

97. Done!!! Thanks for posting all the links!

[DeaconBlues]

98. Done!

It looks like the press is rolling over for this right-wing turd, we can't let the Democrats to do the same.

[kcass1954]

99. Done, and a damned fine way to spend my short break...

I realize, of course, that we're far from done with this. I've already started to jot down some notes for when we get the "write letters" task.

[Imalittleteapot]

100. Done. Easy as pie.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

101. Done

& thanks to the admins for setting this up. I hope we can continue to find additional ways to stop roberts.

best

[politicaholic]

102. Done! That was fun!!

:woohoo:

[Bluerthanblue]

103. Done!

.

[nashville_brook]

104. done -- here's my note

just do the right thing (subject line added to suggested)

this email is of the generated kind. like most people, i'm too busy generally busy with jobs, kids, dogs, taking care of ailing parents and baring "making it" to participate in democracy much beyond voting.

that's why i use these generators.

but i want you to know there is a real person on the other end of this transmission. this person sees a country out of control since about november 2000.

we have lost confidence in the vote -- and this nominee was one of the suits making sure my family's vote in florida did not count. i want him to tell me why i can't know the final tally in 2000. does he understand what that has done to the "average joe," who couldn't take off from work and doesn't have the lawyering skills or the MONEY to get "their guy elected. no, we only have the vote. and he helped take that away. i want to know why.

sure, there's other things i'm worried about. i don't want roe overturned. i don't want corporations to have more rights than people. but that doesn't enter the picture until we understand this person's fundamental relationship to democracy.

put another way -- i want my country back. since florida 2000, nothing has been healthy in the republic politically. we need to heal -- not spread the cancer.

i want YOU, whoever you are -- to look at the totality of the republic and decide for yourself if this person will help or hurt the people. it's that simple. if you need a road map to how that works -- then read the text provided below.

in person,

brook
nashville tenn

_______________________

[Pacifist Patriot]

120. Good job!

[Califooyah Operative]

106. done. nt

[jahyarain]

107. Done

and done!

[Career Prole]

108. Done. n/t

[TheModernTerrorist]

109. done!

[eowyn_of_rohan]

110. Finis

except for Planned P, but I substituted with a phone call to each of my senators' offices.

[meganmonkey]

111. Done! And a hint about the generic nature of these emails...

Some of them allow you to change the message and/or subject line.

I recommend doing that, especially the subject line when possible. Even though they still don't read it, at least if someone scrolls through the inbox some will stand out as unique so it can't hurt!

[Pacifist Patriot]

112. That's what I do. (What I sent via PFAW)

I am concerned the president has nominated an ideologue instead of a rational judge who would protect the rights of the American people. Working for mining companies, he opposed clean air rules and worked to help coal companies strip-mine mountaintops. He worked with Ken Starr and tried to keep Congress from defending the Voting Rights Act. As a lawyer he argued and won a case that stopped some doctors from even discussing abortion. Whether one is pro-choice or anti-choice, this is clearly contrary to the constitutional right to freedom of speech.

He has also taken controversial positions in favor of weakening the separation of church and state and limiting the role of federal courts in protecting the environment. His judicial record is patently hostile to women and minorities.

I urge you to carefully consider and fully investigate Supreme Court nominee Judge John Roberts until all the facts are in about whether he would uphold the rights and legal protections of ALL Americans- a standard any Supreme Court nominee must meet.

[Rhiannon12866]

227. Very well written!

I often add my own words to "actions" on the issues I feel most strongly about, as well.:-)

[kaya33]

113. Done!!

[meganmonkey]

116. Hey kaya33!

Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[Rhiannon12866]

228. Wow! Great job, kaya33! And welcome to DU!

You're here just in time to join us in this new and important endeavor! Kudos to you for diving right in! It's great to have you with us!:hi:

[kaya33]

246. Thank you to all with warm welcomes!!!

It is great to be here...How I came this far without any knowledge of this amazing forum is shocking. But looking forward, I am empowered, passionate, and dedicated to having my voice count. I have finally found an arena to hear others who feel as strongly as I do.
It is like a little crush! I get all excited thinking about logging on and what new activism journey I am headed on!
Anyhow, thanks for your warm welcome!!:)

[Rhiannon12866]

278. You're more than welcome!

I'm just so glad that you found us! You're right, this is a pretty amazing place and I don't know what I ever did without DU. I certainly wouldn't have made it through the last election. And I also welcome your enthusiasm. This sure is the place for it and we can certainly use some positive vibes. Rep. John Conyers (who's also a member of this forum) has given us a badly needed source of inspiration. Before that, morale had been pretty low here. So we can always use someone with your enthusiasm to motivate the rest of us. And this Activism Corps was an inspired idea, on Skinner's part. I had no intention of even signing up, but I'm so glad that I did, since I'm also getting caught up in it. I'm beginning to feel, again, as you do. Kudos to you for joining up first thing! I was anxious just making my first few posts, LOL! And, again, welcome to DU!

Rhiannon:hi:

[Proud_Lefty]

114. Done

[Pacifist Patriot]

115. Another idea.

I have a bunch of friends who think like me but are too busy/lazy to get off their butts and write themselves. Some don't regularly use the internet. (I don't know how they survive, but they do.)

I send them an email or give them a call asking "do I have your permission to send this in your name with your contact info?" That way I have a list of names I can use at the different sites.

I only do this for the people I know will not be bothered to ever go on line and do it themselves. Otherwise I encourage people to go directly to the site and participate ASAP.

[w8liftinglady]

117. that's what I do for my mom and sis nt

[MadisonProgressive]

121. LOL!

I always sign up my girlfriend. I never ask her because it's for her own good!

[Ysolde]

122. That's a good idea for some of the "less motivated" in my family.

And it also gave me a real mean idea. I won't do it, but I was sure tempted after I read your post. I thought about filling out the petitions with my Fundie, anti-abortion brother's information and my Fundie, anti-abortion sister-in-law's info as well (not my brother's wife). Thought it'd be poetic justice.
:evilgrin:

[Pacifist Patriot]

125. Oh don't think that hasn't crossed my evil little mind. Especially...

right after Thanksgiving dinner.

[Pacifist Patriot]

119. Done!

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

123. Done!

[Ysolde]

124. Done and forwarded.

Thanks so much for putting all the links together. I'd already done a few, but this way was much easier to forward all of them to my friends. I'll probably barrage them again!

[WatchWhatISay]

126. So easy to do, even if your not in the Actvist Corps

just takes a few minutes

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

127. Done. I'm glad they have Senator Specter on the list of recipients...

As Chairman of the Judiciary Comm and a pro-choice Republican from PA, I think he is an important player in the questioning.

[Maestro]

128. Done!

Here is the text of my letter. Thanks to Kos and the Alliance for Justice for the info!

I write to urge you to carefully consider your role in the judicial selection process and faithfully execute your advice and consent duty in the review of Judge John Roberts' nomination to the Supreme Court. A careful review of Judge Roberts is critical, for as you recognize, justices on our highest court, as all federal judges, serve for life. At this time, the decisions that Senators make about judicial nominations are critical because rights and liberties that many have thought were secure have been jeopardized by federal court decisions.

Under our unique system of checks and balances, the Senate has a constitutionally mandated co-equal role in the judicial selection process. While the Constitution grants the President the responsibility of nominating individuals for judicial positions, it confers the Senate the co-equal responsibility of “advice and consent.” In carrying out its constitutional duty, the Senate must ensure that nominees for the Supreme Court are subject to the highest standard of scrutiny. No President has a mandate to secure the appointment of individuals to the bench who are hostile to the protection of civil rights, individual liberties, privacy, health and safety, or the environment.

No nominee is presumptively entitled to confirmation. Because these appointments are for life, and because the Senate has a constitutionally mandated role in this process, the nominee bears the burden of establishing that he or she meets the criteria that are appropriately applied to nominees to these high positions. The mere absence of disqualifying evidence in a nominee's record should not constitute sufficient grounds for confirmation.

What concerns me is that Roberts has argued against civil rights, Hedgepeth v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 2004. Roberts also supports the Bush Administration's Guatanamo Bay policy stating that prisoners there have no enforceable human rights even though abuses have now come to light regarding Guatanamo Bay.

He has argued against environmental rights, Lujan v. National Wildlife Federation. He has taken the side of more weakened criminal laws and Habeas Corpus, U.S. v. Brown, 2004 and Fletcher v. District of Columbia, 2004 respectively.

Most disturbing though are his views on a woman's right to choose and medical choice in general. Roberts has proven to be a judge who would strip this right from women. In Rust v. Sullivan, he argued that family planning clinics could not receive federal aid if they talked to women about abortion or even referred them to facilities that performed abortions. He even went as far to support those that block entrances to abortion clinics even though these clinics operate legally! In Bray v. Alexandria Women's Health Clinic he cited First Amendment rights for those that block entrance to abortion clinics!

Finally, John Roberts does not even support war veterans. In June of 2004 he ruled in a D.C. Circuit Court against veterans of the first Gulf War who were captured and abused under the Saddam regime. The veterans were originally awarded $1 billion in damages, but in support of the new war in Iraq, he ruled that district courts do not even have jurisdiction to award such damages. He effectively blocked the award to remove liability for the new Iraq government established by the Bush administration.

It is clear to me that this is not a man that should sit on the Supreme Court as he puts politics ahead of the laws of this land. I urge you to deny confirmation of John Roberts for the U.S. Supreme Court.

[Not_Giving_Up]

129. Done...but

Planned Parenthood gave me this:

We're sorry but it appears that you are not eligible to participate in this campaign. This campaign is designated for constituents of the targeted decisionmaker(s) and based upon your address, it appears that you do not live in an area represented by the targeted decisionmaker(s). If you would like to correct your address information, please return to

http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/scourt_nominee2

All others went through fine.

[ralps]

130. Done

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[ulysses]

131. Done.

:thumbsup:

[ray of light]

132. Done

[bigwillq]

133. DONE!

:bounce:

[PA Mamma]

134. Done...

Now that kind of on-line activism I can find the time for.
Very quick and easy.

[troubleinwinter]

135. Done!

[Strawman]

136. Completed

[Kade]

137. Done. eom

[Dave Reynolds]

138. Done,

plus I had sent my own mail to Levin and Stabenow last night.

[Bucky]

147. Dave, that is the weirdest Googlebomb in a sig file I've ever seen.

Yet another nickname for a man who now has more names in English than God has in Arabic.

Altho, of course, God's names are a lot more respectful.

[Dave Reynolds]

148. An episode of "The Simpson's"

had Homer refer to Boosh as that.

[in_cog_ni_to]

141. Done!

I forgot to click on the LTTE final link on the last task, but I DID send a letter to my editor! :hi:

[Bucky]

144. eNod (confirmation that it was "done" backwards)

[RetroLounge]

145. Done!

and Glad to do it...

:hi:

RL

[devinsgram]

146. Done and proud to do it.

[alarimer]

149. What is the deal with them wanting my phone number?

On the first two, the phone number box wasn't starred like the other required fields but it still wouldn't send it until I gave them my number.

[tyedyeto]

185. The same thing happened to me

I didn't want my phone # out there so didn't complete these two. Again, like the above poster, that area was not starred but they wanted it anyway.

[Lefty48197]

150. Done

.

[donheld]

153. Done

:kick:

[BeHereNow]

154. Done: Focus on MS. ROBERTS/Rebuilding Iraq Connection

My message:
I think the fact that Ms. Roberts
is a partner in Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw
Pittman LLP, which emphasizes among other things, its expertise in facilitating business in Iraq
is all we need to know about this nomination.

CAN YOU SAY MORE HALLIBURTON?
I thought so.
BHN

[Guaranteed]

155. Done. nt

[kohodog]

156. This is a crucial point in US history

I can't worry about offending a politician. Robert's cannot be rubber stamped. The consequences can be too great. I have seen nothing to make me think he is not a Bush hardliner. His views must be made public and the Whitehouse must allow us to see his writings. He after close inspection he turns out to be a middle road conservative, so be it. I doubt that will be the case, being a federalist and all.

[bliss_eternal]

164. I agree with you. I doubt anyone that was involved with

Jeb with Florida AND Ken Starr would be middle of the road on anything.

[BeHereNow]

157. Ms. Roberts Law Firm and IRAQ

http://iraqreconstruction.pillsburylaw.com/

PLEASE take a gander and then consider the big picture
as far as Robert's nomination.
Think HALLIBURTON.

BHN

[BeHereNow]

165. PLEASE READ THE IRAQ REBUILDING / ROBERTS LINK!!!

It's even BETTER than the extreme judicial rulings
as ammo against the nomination.
IT IS HALLIBURTON REWARD AND COLLUSION TIME.
http://iraqreconstruction.pillsburylaw.com/
BHN

[BeHereNow]

182. WHY IS THIS A NON-ISSUE WHEN IT IS THE ISSUE?

SOMEONE CORRECT MY THINKING-
ARE WE, OR ARE WE NOT TRYING TO FIGHT THIS NOMINATION.

The conflict of interest and COLLUSION factor is the
smoking gun on this nomination.
If DU can not see this, than I give up.
BHN

[Walt Starr]

158. Done n/t

[ajreinha]

159. let's calm down

Okay, I just wanted to make a few points about John Roberts' record in relation to Skinner's description, and make a more important point about what we should do with regard to his nomination.

Skinner wrote:

"This week President Bush announced his nomination for the Supreme Court: John Roberts, an extreme right-wing ideologue, corporate lawyer, registered lobbyist, and 20-year partisan hack with only two years' experience on the federal bench. He has argued before the Supreme Court that Roe v. Wade "was wrongly decided and should be overruled..." He worked with Bush-Cheney during the 2000 Florida recount. And he even worked with Ken Starr."


First, I don't think we have any evidence that Roberts is "an extreme right-wing ideologue." His record as a judge doesn't indicate this (although it is, as Skinner pointed out, relatively short). He hasn't made any other statement indicating this. Even the initial reports that Roberts is a Federalist Society member were wrong (he never was). Also, how can you seriously call Roberts a "20-year partisan hack?" He has not been very political. Yes, he worked as an attorney for the Reagan and Bush administrations, but I don't see how that qualifies him as a partisan hack. By all accounts, he is one of the best appellate lawyers of his generation.

Second, he has generally been a corporate lawyer, but he has also advocated non-corporate interests (including at least one union). And lots of lawyers are "registered lobbyists." Sometimes, that's part of being a big-shot attorney. A lobbyist is not per se evil.

Third, the quote regarding Roe v. Wade was in a brief submitted on behalf of the White House representing the views of the White House, and not necessarily of himself. I think we should at least let him respond to questions before we start declaring that he will overturn Roe.

Finally, he worked with Ken Star. As deputy solicitor general! When Ken Star was Solicitor General (and before he became the Ken Star we think of today).

Now for the bigger point. Bush will probably have at least 1 more S.Ct. appointment (and likely more than that). If we start attacking Roberts like he's the anti-Christ, what are we going to do if Bush appoints a really out-of-the-mainstream conservative? If we say that anyone Bush appoints is a crazy rightwing lunatic, the American public will not believe us when it actually happens to be true!

A smarter and more effective strategy (the one that most Senate Democrats seem to be employing right now) is to strongly question Judge Roberts' views on important issues and demand answers. If he refuses to answer, then we look like the reasonable ones and he doesn't. If we instead just run out and oppose Roberts for no real reason now, the Republican talking heads will just label us as obstructionists if Roberts doesn't answer questions and we then demand answers. I'm not saying Democrats should roll over for this nomination, but we should focus our energy on formulating and asking the tough, important questions. This is the only strategy.

[ajreinha]

169. also

There's also this article by Ann Coulter arguing that the Roberts nomination was terrible and he could turn out to be the next Souter:

http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/welcome.cgi

(of course, I don't know how persuasive you think Coulter is...I personally think rambling homeless people on the street make more sense (and are probably more sane as well))

[DisassemblingHisLies]

194. Your points are good

but there's enough background on Roberts to justify a barrage of letters. Essentially, that's what we're doing: Making it known that we are informed & deeply concerned that this candidate will not put his party before his sworn duty.

I like your thinking & I'm inclined to feel that we've accomplished something if the right, tough questions are asked under oath.

[Panda1]

293. I beg to differ a bit here

ajreinha, you said...
By all accounts, he is one of the best appellate lawyers of his generation.

I must have missed this information.
Links, please. Thank you. :)


And...
"what are we going to do if Bush appoints a really out-of-the-mainstream conservative? If we say that anyone Bush appoints is a crazy rightwing lunatic, the American public will not believe us when it actually happens to be true!"

Brown, Pryor, Owen, Roberts et al...he already has.
Where do we finally draw the line?


and you said...
If he refuses to answer, then we look like the reasonable ones and he doesn't.

I don't care about looking reasonable anymore. I'm angry. A one party government is NOT what our Founding Fathers had in mind.
And look reasonableto whom?

also...
the Republican talking heads will just label us as obstructionists

They'll call us worse. They have. So what?
Unless people like us speak out, who will?
Every little bit helps. Every action counts.
I believe in the ripple effect.


Not sure what you mean...
we should focus our energy on formulating and asking the tough, important questions.

Please clarify the important questions Thanks.
Of whom should we ask them? What if they refuse to reply?

Our voices must be heard now, as well as later, via LTEs and contacting anybody who will listen, and even those who won't. Thirty years of harsh theocratic justice doesn't sound too enlightened. We're headed backwards into repression.
This will affect us ALL.

[bliss_eternal]

160. Done!

:patriot:

I did moveon and naral a couple of days ago--the others today!
Thank you for the opportunity!

:bounce:

[Democracy White]

166. I signed some of them though I am not a DU Activist n/t

[annabanana]

167. done... easy breezy..

I added these three question (from a good thread here)
1. Is there a right to privacy as found in Griswold v. Connecticut and Roe v. Wade?

2. Are there "inherent (unwritten) consitutional powers" in the executive branch in any respect, or that would allow the indefinite "internment" of an American citizen or to torture detainees?

3. What is the standard for overturning Supreme Court precedent on constitutional matters?

[Beaverhausen]

168. Done

:woohoo:

[imenja]

171. I filled out all of them asking for careful examination

but not those demanding he be opposed

[Tess49]

172. Done except for Planned Parenthod which woldn't take my info.

[terrya]

173. Well...that was fast. A response from Senator Obama

Ok...it was an automatic mailing. But it's nice that there's some response to my mailings today. :-)

Dear Terry:

Thank you for advising me of your views on the nomination of Judge John Roberts to the Supreme Court. I share your concern about the potential ramifications of Judge O'Connor's retirement from the Supreme Court.

As I'm sure you are aware from watching the media, the White House is mounting an all-out campaign to shape the public perception of Judge Roberts before the constitutionally-mandated confirmation process even starts. Nonetheless, I can assure you that I take very seriously the Senate's role in this process. The Constitution gives the U.S. Senate the special responsibility to "advise and consent" on appointments to the federal bench, and the Senate's judgment on Judge Roberts' nomination must be based on a careful examination of his record and upcoming testimony before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

Judge Roberts' advocates point to his sterling academic and professional credentials as justification for his confirmation. My standard is to assure that any Supreme Court nominee will respect the constitutionally protected rights of individuals and resist the temptation to substitute personal ideology for legal reasoning in court rulings.

The Senate should not, however, allow an impressive resume and admirable personal story to supersede those fundamental considerations. Democratic leaders on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, who will shepherd the Democrats through the confirmation process, have expressed some concern during their initial reviews of Judge Roberts' record. Senator Patrick Leahy, the ranking member on the Committee, has said that "a preliminary review of Judge Roberts' record suggests areas of significant concern that need exploration." I am hopeful that the Committee, the White House and the full Senate will work together in seeing that all relevant concerns are addressed.

Again,Terry, thank you for your message. Hearings on Judge Roberts' nomination will begin within the next several weeks. Please keep in touch while this debate unfolds.


Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator

[Rhiannon12866]

229. Totally cool!

I always hear back from Hillary Clinton, and just started hearing back from Chuck Schumer.:-)

[cloudythescribbler]

174. I assumed we were expected to sign all of them so I did

[nickgutierrez]

175. Done.

:yourock:

[RoyGBiv]

176. Done, but ...

Doing this sort of thing is getting me on e-mail lists for my Senators (Oklahoma -- I refuse to write their names), two of the biggest idiots ever to claim the title of Senator. The right-winge bilge that spews from their offices is stomach-churning.

And of course, nothing I might have to say would ever be taken seriously from either of them.

[Caution]

177. Done

[mcscajun]

178. Done!

The more messages the Senate gets from us, the better!

[CrownPrinceBandar]

180. Done.

[mac56]

181. Done

Thanks.

[DrGonzoLives]

183. Done

As pointed out earlier, I would suggeswt contacting senators directly as well, just in case of filters.

[dmr]

184. Done

I will also send out snail mail to my Congress Critters this week-end.

Yesterday I wrote LTTEs on this to 4 of my local papers.

Thanks, Skinner for putting all this together.

:)

[bling bling]

186. Done,except the Planned Parenthood one.

For some reason it wouldn't accept me because of my address, said I was outside of the territory that they wanted?? Don't understand. Anyway, all the others are complete.

[NoSheep]

187. Done. Perhaps if more folks knew how little time some of these actions

require, they would be more apt to participate. I realize that we've had it pretty easy so far. I have always thought this forum should be doing what we are doing now. Is there some way we could introduce "levels" of participation so that more people would be able to "commit" without fear they will be biting off more than...?
BTW-Thank you for offering us this opportunity to at least try do do SOMETHING! :-)

[tyedyeto]

188. Planned Parenthood response

We're sorry but it appears that you are not eligible to participate in this campaign. This campaign is designated for constituents of the targeted decisionmaker(s) and based upon your address, it appears that you do not live in an area represented by the targeted decisionmaker(s). If you would like to correct your address information, please return to

http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/scourt_nominee2

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Could not complete this one

[chalky]

189. Done!

n/t

[elshiva]

190. I did all that I could here, but the True Majority and Planned Parenthood

do not work on my dial up computer. :(

[sundog]

191. done

:7

[sunnystarr]

192. Done :) (nt)

[DisassemblingHisLies]

193. Most gladly done.

I tried to make each letter as original as possible. I'm going to send two letters by snail mail, too.

[puerco-bellies]

195. Done

[General Zod]

196. To quote Homer Simpson........." Done and Done!"

[GetTheRightVote]

197. Thank you for the posting, I have completed them all !!!

:kick:

[putykat]

198. DONE!

Did all of them plus the National Organization for Women (NOW) and some others yesterday but I don't remember which ones.

:evilgrin:

Let's :grouphug:

[electricray]

199. Done. Hey does anybody know...

what the date was on the first action? I need to search archives of my local newspaper to see if I got printed.

[smartvoter]

200. July 12. nt

[electricray]

201. Thank you.

But they didn't print me, the bastards.

[smartvoter]

205. It will always be hit and (many) misses for all of us. Next time... nt

[Nikki Stone 1]

202. DONE!

Would that they were all this easy to accomplish.

[Nite Owl]

204. All done

passed on to others too.

[jbm]

206. done..n/t

.

[FrenchieCat]

207. Done did..... n/t

[NMMNG]

208. Done!

My senators and Representative (and their interns) are going to be so sick of seeing my name on e-mails to their office :evilgrin:

[JRob]

210. Finito!!!!

[WMliberal]

212. done. felt damn good, too.

I couldn't believe how many angles I came up with when I got into it.

Too bad I live in Virginia. Friggin Allen's (R-Waste of Skin) staff is just going to delete it... :argh:

[MaryBear]

213. Done

[MaryBear]

295. Published!

:beer:

[sarahlee]

214. Question about multiple contacts on the same issue.

I only did True Majority - and did it when I got the email from them.

If you read the info about contacting your reps linked here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x19421

it tells you that if they get the same message from a single individual more than once, they only count it once....

So, what do you think?

[eridani]

215. To avoid the astroturf effect--

--I did not send a single message as is. I just deleted the canned letter and wrote a different short paragraphy for each petition. On one of them that had a print option, I selected that and mailed the letters. Regular mail is generally much more effective. I'm going to do postcards and faxes when I get home as well.

[Rhiannon12866]

230. Great idea! I've done that, too.

They tend to give snail mail more weight than e-mail or faxes, since it requires more effort on the part of the sender.:-)

[Trevelyan]

216. Done!

Thank you for the links. I sometimes feel like I spend half my life signing petitions but then I think of the atrocities going on in Iraq and Afghanistan that are aimed by the Bushistas at both our young soldiers and the Arabs and the cageprisoners.com with such sad postings of relatives, friends and sympathizers of people who have been "disappeared" by our CIA and military and tortured for crimes committed by the Bush Crime Family and their cohorts, Bilderberg, the bad MK-ULTRA CIA, much of the top officers of the Pentagon though bush hasn't been able to purge all the CIA and Pentagon officials with humanity who care about our troops being misused to fight for Halliburton Brown and Root, Carlyle and other war profiteers.

[Trevelyan]

217. I'm grateful for the links and I'm sure they will be contacting me about

other activist choices. I used to feel ill and haunted by the Washington Post articles on what Bush Senior and Kissinger did in South and Central America and The School of the Americas CIA School for torture - does anyone know if the bill was passed to close down the renamed but still a torture school of The School of the Americas?

When I was sending so many emails through Congress.org to oppose Gonzales, et al, there was a letter by someone with the name of the bill to shut down the renamed SOA.

Congress.org now demands that you type in the letters and numbers to send email and I was given the message that my browser did not support sending emails to Congress though I had been using Congress.org by Capawitz to send emails on the criminals bush was choosing for his cabinet and signed many of the petitions on Congress.org site.

It is good to see so many people becoming involved and the Internet and Democratic Underground makes it possible to see you are not alone in being disgusted by the things Corporate owned politicos have been doing to our country and the world for decades.:dem: :patriot:

[sweetheart]

222. 7 million ameicans abroad are excluded from these websites

I've had to squeeze in to the address field a note explaning why
i've a foreign address and a registered-to-vote zip code.

Some of the websites reject this... and it is really narrow minded
for the website designers to not think of this in advance... they
are cutting off support that they could use.

In any case, i've done most of them, and forwarded this activism
list to several feminist collegues for their activism as well.

[cleveramerican]

231. am I allowed to disagree?

of all the potential justices I truly think W has picked one who Conservative enough for him and moderate enough to be confirmed.If the Dem's in congress oppose Roberts in knee-jerk fashion and he gets in anyway, Get ready for a real right-winger when the chief justice slot opens up sooner than you might think.

I oppose railing against someone or something just because it didn't come from my side of the aisle.

This is a liberal country founded on the idea that enlightenment comes from consensus. Citizens don't have to agree on everything in order to agree on ANYTHING.


I'm not trying to be a wet blanket here just calling them like I see them.

[Pacifist Patriot]

257. I don't see why not.

In my case though, I'm not railing against someone just because he's from the other side of the aisle. I have genuine concerns with Roberts. I wish I could find a link to a column I read this morning. I don't think he's remotely "moderate" he's just got a nice moderate smile.

[WePurrsevere]

232. Done... Will Do... AND... an AU for DU if they want to...

Here's one more great org with an "Oppose John Roberts" email campaign:

Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU):
http://capwiz.com/au/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7854891

[Sapphire Blue]

243. DU Activists: Please sign this one, too! (Americans United for Separation

... of Church & State)

edited to add: see post 232

[babylonsister]

233. Done, though I have a feeling KBHutchinson and Cornyn

both might ignore me! :cry:

[Timshel]

248. done in Austin

and yeah, I agree....gives one an unfortunate sense of futility, doesn't it? ;-(

[southernleftylady]

234. Done but i dont think my senators really care what i think (i live in TN)

so i have frist :rolleyes:

[Tom Rinaldo]

235. Done n/t

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

236. Done!

Friday July 22. :)

[Adelante]

237. Did the ones I could do

I think calling for outright rejection is strategically unwise. Insisting that Roberts not be given rubber stamp approval and that full deliberations take place in the Senate, with full disclosure of his record and views, as should happen with any nominee, makes more sense to me.

I sent basically this message by email, as well:

The Senate's role in the Supreme Court selection process is one of critical and grave importance. It must be conducted seriously, without politics muddying the picture, and with a view toward any potential Justice's ability to conduct the Court's business judiciously and with fairness, so that the broadest range of American thought and culture remains protected. Please assure our nation that our Constitution and our laws will be interpreted toward the good of ALL of us. I urge you to deliberate fully and carefully before you reach your conclusion. Avoid extremes and reach for the middle, the moderate, the open-minded, and the wise. Ensure any future Justice will uphold our rights and freedoms and protections. Take the time needed to show that Supreme Court nominee Judge John Roberts meets this standard, and consider the concerns of American women and men who want to know his position on abortion before the Senate votes.

Respectfully,

[berni_mccoy]

238. Done...but one thing that I felt was missing

in all the petitions was a counter to the talking point that Democrats won't be happy with any candidate Bush selects. The truth is there are qualified CONSERVATIVE judges that WON'T overturn Roe v. Wade.

I can just hear my Senators' responses right now: "Unfortunately, Democrats won't be happy with any conservative candidate..." or something of the sort.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I at least added that to my personalized section of the messages: that there are conservatives who believe in womens rights to choose.

[ImADeanDem]

239. Done, and...

Sent to my various email contacts as well. Thanks so much for putting all of this in one place!

BTW, for anyone who wants a shorter, more email-friendly url for that unwieldy PFAW one, here it is: http://tinyurl.com/9tgmg .

[SheepyMcSheepster]

240. done!

[Sapphire Blue]

241. Another one - from civilrights.org / saveourcourts.org:

ALERT! Tell Senators: Carefully Review Nominee's Record: https://secure2.convio.net/lccr/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=291&AddInterest=1128&JServSessionIda006=ns01z5nd01.app19d

(through saveourcourts.org: http://saveourcourts.civilrights.org/research_center/details.cfm?id=33671)

[Greybnk48]

242. Done !! n/t

[brainshrub]

244. Done

Only two sites didn't work for me. At SaveTheCourt.org I kept getting this error message:

You are unable to take action on this item because we were unable to resolve your address with the USPS database to acquire your ZIP+4 ZIP Code. Your ZIP+4 ZIP Code is required to identify your local, state, and congressional districts.

At ppaction.org. I got this message:

We're sorry but it appears that you are not eligible to participate in this campaign. This campaign is designated for constituents of the targeted decisionmaker(s) and based upon your address, it appears that you do not live in an area represented by the targeted decisionmaker(s). If you would like to correct your address information, please return to

[Sapphire Blue]

247. USPS - ZIP + 4 lookup

http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp

[brainshrub]

252. I tried that earlier and it didn't work.

After four tries I gave up.

[Sapphire Blue]

253. Please don't give up... contact your senators directly by email or webform

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

and/or call them @ 1-877-SOB-U-SOB

[brainshrub]

255. One step ahead of you.

:thumbsup:

[xultar]

245. Done baby!!

[Fenris]

249. Done

[mzmolly]

250. Done

:hi:

[FizzFuzz]

251. DONE! THank you SKINNER AND EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!

goddamn that effing chimpanzee.

[tousiswritten]

256. Done

[FizzFuzz]

275. Hi tousiswritten, welcome to DU

and thank you for being an activist!
Much appreciated!

:hi:

[Misunderestimator]

258. Done...

Some of these I had done already... just did the remainder. :thumbsup:

[Old_Fart]

259. I am almost done

I am very slow but I am getting there.

[Tommymac]

260. Done. The more letters sent the better.

You can never talk to your elected representative enough.

[Geek_Girl]

261. Done!

:dem:

[rg302200]

262. Done

But, I also had problems with the planned parenthood one. They also told me that I lived in a state that didn't have any targeted lawmakers. Go figure!

[MadJohnShaft]

263. Done

[crispini]

264. Done

[Don_1967]

265. DONE!!

I hope it will make them think twice before confirming this guy.

[Catbird]

266. All except PP

Thanks to previous posters I checked the Planned Parenthood list of senators first. Surprise!! Neither of mine was on the list.

[Pithlet]

267. Done! n/t

[creeksneakers2]

268. done

[demgurl]

269. All done except Planned Parenthood.

It would not accept my address for this campaign.

[KatyaR]

294. I had that problem, too.

Apparently you have to check to be on their mailing list before it will go through--cheap trick, I think.

Anyway, mine will go to one senator--the other's too big a jackass to accept e-mail from his constituents. :mad: :puke:

Thanks, Skinner!

[undergroundrailroad]

270. Done and fun!

Undergroundrailroad :hi:

[ornotna]

271. Done!

[Pushed To The Left]

273. Done!

I tended to lean more towards urging them to ask very tough questions on where he stands on issues like the right to privacy, choice, and civil right/liberties.

[jurassicpork]

274. Well done.

What are my responsibilities?

Btw, I don't know if this has hit DU, yet, but this link may prove to be of interest:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/21/AR2005072101961.html

Conflict of interest? What is this conflict of interest of which you speak, mad liberal stranger?

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com

[Robert Oak]

276. Done NOW DO CAFTA!!! PLEASE SO IMPORTANT! n/t

[tsuki]

277. My personal message:

Please remember, for the welfare of the nation, that your job is to advise and consent. You function as co-equal to the executive branch, not as a submissive branch. No Rubber Stamps.

Ask the hard questions, and conduct a thoughtful deliberation during this process for the citizens of the next generation of the United States.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.
----

As an added bonus, signed petition on Take Action: Rove must go.
My personal message:

As a PROUD military brat, I am angry that a Presidential administration would give safe harbor to a traitor. And please don't tell me that "Rove did not know." I knew at a VERY EARLY AGE that I could not talk about my father's work. LOOSE LIPS, SINK SHIPS.

SUPPORT THE TROOPS means getting them the equipment and information they need.

As to the Conservatives labeling the Democrats traitors for using their Constitutional Right of dissent, I would say to those Conservatives, look in your own house for traitors that would subvert the mission of the military and the national security of this Nation.

What would Barry Goldwater say?

[SeanQuinn]

279. Done. nt

[Viva_La_Revolution]

280. done!

[GinaMaria]

281. did all but one

couldn't reach True Majority :-(

[NMDemDist2]

282. Done n/t

[Democrat 4 Ever]

283. Done - completed on 7/21 - accepted by all links. n/t

[acmavm]

284. I thought we just had to click the line to the admins in the original

thread to notify them that we had completed our task. So we have to post 'done' here as well?

Sorry.

Done yesterday.

[bunny planet]

285. Done.

[acmejack]

286. Dang, I forgot to say I'd done it!

I done it!

[Horse with no Name]

287. Done.

Didn't take as long as I thought.:)

[coffeenap]

288. done

[johannes1984]

289. done

but for the true majority action which did not load .

[mike_c]

290. Done!

eom

[tishaLA]

291. Done

[savannahana]

292. done. n/t

[BrightKnight]

296. done -n/t

[jwirr]

297. done

[stepnw1f]

298. Done!!!(nt)

[niallmac]

299. Done..Ta Da!

[OneForLuck]

300. done!

[AgadorSparticus]

301. done.

[Callalily]

302. Done!

[KarenS]

303. Done!!

I even signed an additional petition on the True Majority website (the last link) to get rid of Rove!!

[ClintonTyree]

304. Sorry, I've been away for a few days, but.......

consider it DONE!

[DFLer4edu]

305. Done

[LSK]

306. Done

Im lucky to have Barack Obama and Dick Durbin as my Senators. I am confident at least Durbin will give them a good fight.

[zorro349]

307. and.... Done

Thank you very much.

[shugh514]

308. Joined Friday - done

[benfranklin1776]

309. Done!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[intheflow]

310. Done! Thank you, Admins, for this opportunity!

The WH refusing to release Roberts' full records under previous republican administrations was what sent me over the edge, compelling me to join the DU Activist Corp.

Here's the personal message I added when given the option in the above petitions:

I oppose the appointment of Judge John Roberts to the Supreme Court. With only two years on a federal bench, he does not have much of a track record to prove that he will not use the appointment to legislate far right ideologies. In addition, I am concerned about the role he played in advising the administration during the contentious 2000 election, his previous writings condemning full reproductive rights and freedom to women, and the fact that the White House is refusing to release his full record from his work under two previous administrations.

[TOhioLiberal]

311. Done...

...The Planned Parenthood one didn't send, because it said my senators weren't 'targeted' to get it. I thought, being R's they would be, but oh well.

[adarling]

312. done

[sagesnow]

313. Done. n/t

[vard28]

314. Done! n/t

[ebayfool]

315. Done! You do know these activist threads are dial-up hell, don't you?! LOL

But well worth the loading wait!

[vademocrat]

316. Done! n/t

[Moosepoop]

317. Done. n/t

[wtbymark]

318. an hour or so late - was on vacation

[norml]

320. OK Principal Skinner, I've finished my homework.

Was that to be finished by 8 pm DU time or USA time?

[Desertrose]

321. the cat turned off my wireless transmitter....but its DONE now.

[cat starbuck]

323. Fini !

That was both easy and painless.

[McCamy Taylor]

324. Done

[IndianaGreen]

325. Done!

I also added the following text:

Join Senator Kerry's request that the White House releases all memoranda and e-mails that Judge Roberts prepared while an employee of the United States government. This information is critical to ascertain Judge Robert's judicial temperament to sit on the highest court in the land.

[New Earth]

327. done

:bounce:

[Turn CO Blue]

328. Done. Better a couple of hours late...than never n/t

[Tigress DEM]

329. I did the 3 that encourage full review....

I don't feel comfortable with demanding outright rejection at this point, because even though this guy has a corporate background and a stance on abortion that rankles, I want to be more about getting the facts and letting the facts make the case.

Does it feel weird to anyone else to send your two Senators 6 different versions of your opinion on one issue? I was glad for the one that included Reid and a wider base instead of just "my two Senators."

[DeepModem Mom]

330. Almost forgot! Sorry, a little late -- but done. nt

[The Blue Knight]

332. Sorry a little late, but done nonetheless!

[FtWayneBlue]

333. Done. I have been out of town, to the truth emergency convergence,

in Washington, D.C. That group has a lot of energy, and if they get just a little better organized, the establishment better beware!
http://www.truthemergency.us/

[Longhorn]

334. Better late than never! n/t

[Suziq]

335. Done!

Sorry I'm late.




:hippie:

[really annoyed]

336. Done

Sorry I am late... I have been very busy.....:)

[AndyTiedye]

337. Done (Better Late than Never)

I was out of town and off the net.

[complain jane]

339. Me too. Late, but done.

[Sivafae]

340. Done finally...n/t

[ChickMagic]

341. I got most done

before I busted my foot. Only partially complete. Sorry.

[LisaM]

342. I had trouble getting on to the first few

then the time ran out, so I didn't finish this, damn.

[jarnocan]

343. new ones

http://ga0.org/campaign/tough_questions/w8nindwzz5eetn3? request senators to ask tough questions about his environmental views.
New Planned parenthood one http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/roberts_roeCall2?rk=8pAmsYn1fXiRW

[jarnocan]

344. vote/petition too should court be more right wing?

http://www.usalone.com/rightwingcourt.htm should the court be more...VOTE - goes to congress
<http://jarnocan.blogspot.com> I put important actions here too.

[devinsgram]

345. Done

[frictionlessO]

346. Done, but some of them have been de-activated.

Sorry it took me so long!

[WePurrsevere]

347. Done (back when 1st asked but forgot to post, sorry) n/t